Spark Sport has won the broadcast rights to the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League for the next three seasons.
These rights were previously held by Sky, who had them for nearly three decades. Spark Sport winning this bid marks another massive sporting loss for Sky.
Sky still has the rights to the FIFA World Cup, Women’s World Cup, and the European championships (currently screening) but now, the only yearly football events Sky has the rights to is the A-league.
It adds to Spark Sport’s already impressive football lineup which also has exclusive rights to the English Premier League and the Copa America tournament making Spark Sport the home for top tier football competitions in the world.
Head of Spark Sport, Jeff Latch stated “We are incredibly happy to be bringing New Zealand football fans the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League on top of our current football line-up of Premier League, women’s Super League, Copa América, MUTV, and Liverpool TV. With these five top-tier competitions on Spark Sport, we will be the leading football destination for all Kiwi football fans as they tune in to watch the best football the world has to offer.”
This isn’t the first time Spark Sport has won a major sporting event over Sky. Recently they won the rights to the Rugby League World Cup which Sky had held since 2000. However, Sky did manage to fight Spark Sport off and secure the rights to the NRL competition until 2027.
Spark Sport is clearly making a huge impact on the market with it now owning the exclusive rights or shared rights to Formula One, World Rally, Moto GP, NBA, NFL, WTA tennis, UFC and World Athletics Diamond League. They also have the rights to NZ Cricket.
